10 Useful Tips on How to Address Wedding Invitations

Your big wedding day is approaching and you’ve received your wedding invitations, they are assembled and that guests list is ready, now it’s time to address them. Determining the right way to handle your wedding invitation envelope can be a tricky process.As a rule of thumb, the outer envelope of your wedding invitation should be more formal, with title and full name, while the inner envelope should be more informal, without first name or title and last name if you're close to the guest.

While it seems complicated at first, there are simple rules you can follow to get this job done correctly. Here we offer some templates based on your invites mailing in 1 envelope or 2 envelopes.Take a look to find more ways to handle your wedding invitation envelope below.

 

A Married Couple

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Everson

 

A Married Couple with Different Last Names

Mr. Robert Everson and Mrs. Jennifer Power

 

A Married Couple where the Woman has Hyphenated her Last Name

Mr. Robert Everson and Mrs. Jennifer Power-Everson

 

An Unmarried Couple Living Together

Mr. Robert Everson

Ms. Jennifer Power

 

A Same-Sex Couple

If the couple is married and shares the same last name, list the names on the same line:

Mr. Rob Brown and Mr. Carl Brown

 

If they are married but kept their own last names:

Mrs. Celine Elgin and Mrs. Jennifer Power

 

If they are unmarried, list them alphabetically by last name:

Ms. Celine Elgin and Ms. Jennifer Power

 

A Married Woman Doctor or Two Married Doctors

If a woman uses her maiden name professionally and socially:

Dr. Jennifer Power and Mr. Robert Everson

 

If she uses her husband’s name socially:

Dr. Jennifer and Mr. Robert Everson

 

If both parties are doctors:

The Doctors Jennifer and Robert Everson 

 

A Widow

Traditionally, a widow retains her husband’s name until she remarries. Some widows prefer to use their own first name as well. In this case, it is best to ask what she prefers.

Mrs. Robert Everson

or

Mrs. Jennifer Everson

 

Children under 18 and Families

Younger guests should be included on the outer envelope by listing their names in order of age from the oldest to the youngest on the line below their parent(‘s) name(s). If you do not know all the child/children’s name(s), you may use “and Family”.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Everson

Miss Carolyn, Master Bobby, and Miss Gail

or

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Everson

Carolyn, Bobby, and Gail

or

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Everson

and Family

 

Children 18 and Older

At age 18, children are considered legal adults and they should receive their own invitations regardless of whether or not they live with their parent(s).

Ms. Kelly Abraham

or

Mr. Bill Weasley

 

Single Guest that is allowed to bring a Date

Mr. Robert Everson and Guest